Why Conserve?
Habitat Conservation Creates Opportunities for Tomorrow
Turkey vulture in flight
The southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley are characterized by world-class agricultural, biological and scenic resources. This region is also one of the lesser developed areas of California, so we have opportunities to conserve wide open spaces that may allow future generations the flexibility to make choices with the finite amount of land still available to them. Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) is committed to strategically selecting and protecting, in perpetuity, a web of these connected, high-quality conservation lands - ranches, farms, scenic vistas, cultural sites, wildlife habitat and waterways - in the Kings, Kaweah, Tule and Kern River watersheds. Land conservation can give tomorrow’s communities of humans, plants and animals the tools to adapt to potentially harmful environmental changes in air or water quality.
Additionally, this region is home to some of the most unique and beautiful species and landscapes in the world. Here are just some of the remarkable characteristics that define the land that SRT conserves and stewards:
Sycamore alluvial woodlands: One of the largest, healthiest and last remaining sycamore alluvial woodlands in the world stretches along Dry Creek north of Woodlake.
Dry Creek meanders through
Homer Ranch
Valley oak groves: Majestic pillars of great valley oak trees reside on most of our conserved properties, providing habitat for hundreds of species. Kaweah Oaks Preserve protects large groves of these trees, giving preserve visitors a glimpse of what the valley floor looked like hundreds of years ago, before Western settlement.
Agriculture: Fresno, Tulare and Kern Counties are the top 3 agricultural producers in the nation. Most experts agree that four out of every ten jobs in this region is either directly or indirectly related to the agricultural industry. The continued vitality of our region’s farming legacy is imperative for our region’s economy and our nation’s food security.
Water: An intricate system of rivers and streams dance their descent from the peaks of the southern Sierra Nevada to quench the needs of the valley floor’s growing population and productive agriculture. We work to maintain both the quality and quantity of this vital water supply.
Vernal pools: Vernal pools are a very special kind of natural wetland that fill with water during the spring season of rainfall, creating conditions for many rare life species to emerge. In late spring, as the moisture evaporates from the edges of the pools, rings of multi-colored grasses and flowers appear, creating unique patterns. The southern San Joaquin Valley is one of the few places that create the necessary conditions for these unique wetlands to flourish.
Wildlife: The preserves and easement properties that SRT conserve protect hundreds of plant and wildlife species that are native to this region.
Recreation: Kaweah Oaks Preserve is open to the public year-round for hiking, education and repose. We have plans to open three more preserves for visitor access in the near future. Other preserves and conservation properties are open for special events and monthly walks. Check our calendar for upcoming events and sign up for our e-newsletter to receive news updates.